How to Store Your Makeup Properly and Make It Last Longer

Even if you are generally a pretty organized person, chances are your makeup is the one thing that is all over the place, as you use it so often. Most people don’t really think about storing makeup and beauty products correctly. Functionality that fits into their routine takes precedent. Odd lipsticks probably litter the bottom of your purse. A couple of mascaras in your makeup bag are overdue to be thrown out, but you’re not quite done with them. You have probably never even wondered about whether it’s a good idea to expose your moisturizers to the steam from your shower.

While functionality is important, there is a way to store makeup properly. This way will both work for you and keep the shelf life of your products. Many people don’t know about the mental health benefits of doing makeup. Yes, organizing your makeup can also be a therapeutic experience. Not only will the process itself make you feel better, but it will make getting ready in the morning exponentially easier.

1. Out with the old

The first thing to consider when you decide to give your makeup bag a re-haul is to throw out everything you have no use for. Bear in mind:

You should toss any makeup item you bought which was the wrong color, gave you an allergic reaction or didn’t fit your skin type. If you’ve only tested it recently, you can pass it over to a friend who it will fit. If not, it’s time to say goodbye.

Check the expiration date on all of your makeup and beauty products. Toss everything you shouldn’t be using anymore. The dates often get smudged or become illegible. You can always look up a particular product online to check. For mascaras, the shelf life will usually be three to six months. For lipsticks, it will go up to a year and for powders and bronzers up to two. You can always tell if a product has gone bad because you will be able to notice a change in color, smell or consistency. Knowing when something has expired is a big part of knowing how to store makeup properly.

2. Keep it all clean and tidy

Keeping your makeup and beauty products clean is almost as important as where you keep them. They go on your skin so you want to keep them as free of dirt and bacteria as you can. Not only is this better for your skin, but it also keeps your beauty products from spoiling. You’re already aware of having to clean your makeup brushes and sponges regularly. However, it is also important to keep the products themselves clean. Before storing your makeup, make sure you clean the outside, as well as the inside of the products where this is possible. In addition to this, make sure the lids are screwed on tightly.

3. A big no to moisture

One thing you should always keep in mind is, moisture helps bacteria grow! So if you are keeping your makeup in the open or where there is a lot of moisture, chances are that it will get infected and will help bacteria grow out in huge numbers. Using this sort of makeup would definitely do more harm than good. It can lead to pimples, scars, infections over your skin.

How to store makeup properly when you’re moving

You’ve thrown out the products you don’t need and carefully cleaned the rest, so you’re ready to pack. If you’ve decided to hire a team of movers to relocate your home, there’s a chance they will also offer packing services. Make sure you use protective wrapping around glass bottles and cases if you’re doing it yourself. You should pack other items in plastic bags with a very tight seal to keep any moisture from coming in. A good idea for your powders is to put a cotton pad inside each one to prevent it from breaking and crumbling.

You can also find climate controlled storage units through many moving companies, such as miamimoversforless.com. This can be helpful in case you need to store your items for a longer period of time.

Where to store makeup and beauty products

Where you should (and shouldn’t) store your beauty products is in some cases a bit of a controversial topic. Some experts swear against keeping anything in the bathroom because of the humidity that comes with having the shower in the same room, but some say it’s fine. The thing that everyone agrees on, though, is making sure you keep all of your products away from direct sunlight without exception. Whether it’s a lotion or lipstick or something completely different, the sun’s radiation will affect your products negatively and shorten their shelf life.

Is the bathroom a good place to store beauty products?

You can pretty much keep body lotions wherever, but you should be more careful with facial moisturizers. Reading the label can be of great help here. For other beauty products that are in heavy rotation, such as your shampoo and conditioner, they’re fine where you’re already keeping them. They are in use a lot so you don’t have to worry about them expiring or spoiling.

How to store makeup products

As for makeup storage tips, your colored powders like blush, eye shadow or foundation, should definitely stay somewhere dark. A drawer or at least a makeup bag will keep the colors intact. This is also a good spot for nail polish. One of the liquid foundation hacks is that it requires a dark and dry storage space as well. You can particularly prolong its shelf life if you make sure the seal is always on tight. The same goes for mascara. The main problem you can have with your lipsticks is that they could melt, so beware of leaving them in really high temperatures.

Brushes

Brushes are a must-have beauty tool. They can be kept wherever except out in the open in your bathroom. The moisture will be absorbed which will present a breeding ground for bacteria. Your best bet is to keep your brushes clean and dry.

Not only is it important to know how to store makeup properly, but also to take good care of your tools.

Is the fridge too cool?

Keeping beauty products in the fridge could be too much for you, whether because it’s unconventional or you simply just lack the space. However, various products could benefit from being stored in your refrigerator. Some of these are perfumes and liquid foundations.